Carthage Tigers Swim to Victory in COC West Boys Championship
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage Tigers boys swim team won the 2025 Central Ozark Conference (COC) Championships on Friday, clinching the COC West title with a commanding 432 points at Hickory Hills Middle School.
The Tigers’ victory was anchored by a series of stellar performances across the meet’s 12 events. William Wright led the charge, setting a COC Overall and West record in the 100-yard freestyle with a blistering 48.89 seconds, splitting 22.98 and 25.91. Wright also powered the 200-yard individual medley, finishing first in the West division at 2:00.51, and contributed to the Tigers’ winning 400-yard freestyle relay (4:03.89) alongside Carter Yost, Colton Vitolla, and Bennett Ragsdale. The team’s 200-yard freestyle relay, featuring Brody Youngblood, Dylan Evans, Wright, and Anthony Evans, took first in the West at 1:37.52, just shy of the previous year’s COC West record.
Youngblood shone in the 50-yard freestyle, posting a swift 23.80 for first in the West, and added a third-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke (1:06.17). Dylan Evans, also 16, claimed the top spot in the 100-yard breaststroke for the West division with a time of 1:09.74, while Anthony Evans earned third in the same event (1:17.83) and contributed to the 200-yard medley relay’s first-place finish (1:58.89) alongside Youngblood, Dylan Evans, and Vitolla. Vitolla also placed third in the 100-yard butterfly (1:03.67).
Joplin’s swimmers made their mark, though they finished eighth overall with 81 points. Owen Mordica secured second in the 100-yard backstroke (1:02.97), and Sam Davidson took second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:10.14).
Webb City Cardinals, finishing ninth with 74 points, showcased talent through Dalton Spence and Oliver Thompson. Spence won the 100-yard butterfly in the West division with a COC West record of 57.54, edging out Thompson, who finished second at 57.68. Thompson also took first in the 100-yard backstroke (1:02.86), while Riley Hubard led the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:12.56.
Despite strong individual performances from Springfield Central High (395 points) and Glendale Falcons (321 points) in the COC East, Carthage’s collective dominance in the West division—bolstered by depth in events like the 200-yard freestyle, where Camden Campbell, Cayd Samuelson, and Ragsdale placed second, third, and fourth—sealed their championship. The Tigers also swept the top four spots in the 500-yard freestyle, with Kixson Reynolds (7:32.49), Campbell (7:41.75), Ragsdale (7:51.50), and Jude Little (7:57.03) leading the pack.